Drug tests are becoming more and more common, especially for jobs. You may be wondering how to pass a mouth swab drug test, urine drug test, or a hair follicle drug test. We’re going to share some tips with you on how to do so.
What is a drug test?
Drug tests look for the presence of one or more illegal or prescription drugs in urine, blood, saliva, hair, or sweat. Urine testing is the most common type of drug screening. The drugs most often tested for include marijuana, opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, steroids, and barbiturates.
What is it used for?
Drug screening is used to find out whether or not a person has taken a certain drug or drugs. It may be used for: employment, sports organizations, legal or forensic purposes, and/or monitoring opioid use.
What Is a Drug's Half-Life?
A drug's half-life is the time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to drop by 50%. The half-life can be used to help predict how long a patient will need medication for and is also used to guide dosage adjustment in patients receiving multiple drugs concurrently or in patients with renal impairment.
The speed of onset (when effects will be felt) depends on the drug and not its half-life. Long-acting versions with long half-lives can have a rapid or intermediate onset of action, while short-acting versions have a rapid or intermediate onset of action. A benzodiazepine with a long half-life like Valium may be detectable longer than a drug with a short half-life like Xanax.
Factors That Determine How Long Drugs Stay In Your System
There are many factors that determine how long a drug stays in your system. Some of the factors include the type, amount, and frequency of the drug being taken. From the individual standpoint, how long a drug stays in your systems depends on the body mass, hydration levels, metabolism, and physical activity of the user.
As a general rule of thumb increasing water intake and physical activity will aid your body in eliminating any chemical substance.
How Long Does Marijuana Stay In Your System?
Marijuana is one of the most tested substances. According to a study by the AAC, THC is detectable for up to 90 days in hair, anywhere between 3 days to a month in urine, up to 48 hours in saliva, and up to 36 hours in blood. This data speaks for an infrequent and moderate user. Anyone who partakes from once to several times. THC can be detectable for a longer window of time in heavy users.
Still, the answer to this question is dependent on many factors. For example, the amount of marijuana that a person ingests, the amount of time that passes between the ingestion and the test, the person's metabolism, the person's diet, and the person's body weight are all factors that can influence the amount of time marijuana remains in their system.
How Long Does Synthetic Marijuana Stay In Your System?
Synthetic marijuana is a psychoactive chemical that is similar to the active ingredient in marijuana, THC. Synthetic marijuana is often marketed as "herbal incense," “spice” or "potpourri." It is usually sold in small packets, often in the form of tiny "blunts." Synthetic marijuana is usually smoked, but it can also be ingested.
A natural cannabis test will not detect synthetic marijuana but there are specific tests for synthetics. Generally, it can be detected: in blood 24-48 hours after last use, in urine 72 hours after last use, in saliva up to 48 hours, and as long as 90 days after last use in hair samples. Again the factors of an individual’s body mass, hydration levels, metabolism, and physical activity come into play with how long the drug will stay in your system.
Will I need to do anything to prepare for the drug test?
If you have 30-45 days before your test, you can usually cleanse your body of marijuana by abstaining from use, intaking lots of liquids, dieting, and exercising. If you have at least seven days before your test, a detoxification program will speed up the body's natural cleansing process and can help rid your body of THC in about a week. If your test is coming up sooner, certain detoxification drinks are known to flush your system the same day you drink them keeping you clean for a period of four to six hours.
Ways to Pass a Drug Test & Get THC Out Of Your System
Detox Drinks/ Detox Kits
Detox drinks help to lower THC levels in the urine for drug tests. Detox drinks offer ingestible substances that react to the drugs in your system to create a different chemical that goes undetected by a urine test.
One of the best detox drinks on the market is Mega Clean. After drinking the entire bottle of Mega Clean, wait 15 minutes before refilling the bottle with water and drinking the remaining content. You'll probably have to pee soon, which means Mega Clean is working to flush your system, allowing you to test negative for weed and other drugs for a period of time. For best results consume 60-90 minutes prior to the test.
Mega Clean is a detox drink that can help you pass your urinalysis. This product is not effective for blood, hair, or saliva samples. Detox kits are unregulated so caution is advised for possible withdrawals symptoms and unlisted ingredients.
Home Remedies
Lemon Juice and Water
Lemon juice is a natural detoxifier due to its acidic elements. Simply add the juice from half a lemon into a glass of water to create the concoction. It is best to consume the mix multiple times a day leading up to your test.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is another natural detoxifier. It is safe to consume with electrolytes for an added cleaning. It won’t change the chemical makeup of the drugs in your system like detox drinks but rather flush it out, so the more you drink the better.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another good home remedy option. Although with this method it is best to start the detox process at least one week before the drug test, similarly with other home remedies. Simply add two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to your drink of choice (best of non-alcoholic).
For Hair Follicle Test
Special shampoos are the way to go if the drug test is collecting hair samples. Brands like The Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo, offer cleansing of your scalp to make THC undetectable. Again, it is best to do it consistently for the week leading up to your drug test. Bleaching or dying your hair can also alter any traces of THC on your hair follicles while giving you a new look.
For Swab Test
In the case of saliva sampling, there are detox mouthwashes. Toxin Rid Detox Mouthwash is one example to help rid your mouth of THC traces. This helps when the drug test is fast approaching. However, the mouthwash should be used 15 minutes before the silva sample is taken to ensure effectiveness.
For Urine Test
If detoxing just won’t do it there are other tricks on the market. Synthetic urine kits come with everything that you need to pass the drug test, including synthetic urine and a heating pad to keep the urine warm. Another way is to purchase premixed synthetic urine. This is a urine sample that has been pre-made and is ready to use. All you have to do is heat it up and pour it into the collection cup.
Do these common methods for passing a drug test really work?
Natural cleanses, detoxes and synthetic samples are tried and true methods, but one size doesn’t fit all. Effectiveness still depends on body mass, hydration levels, metabolism, and physical activity of the user. As well as how often the drug is consumed and the last time used. Drug tests can be tricky, but with the right tips, you can pass them But the only absolute way to pass a drug test is to abstain from drugs.
